Mechanical fluidic switch



United States Patent [72] Inventor Hans-Dieter Kinner Attleboro, Massachusetts [2| Appl. No. 776,472

[22] Filed Nov. 18, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 8, 1970 [73] Assignee North East Fluidics, Inc.

Bethany, Connecticut a corporation of Delaware [54] MECHANICAL FLUIDIC SWITCH 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[51] Int. Cl ..Fl6k 37/00, Fl6k 11/02 [50] Field of Search 137/556,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,l22,6l6 2/1964 Rice et al l37/625.46X

3,254,669 6/1966 Perlman 137/556 3,338,268 8/1967 Houseretal l37/625.46X

Primary Examinerl-lenry T. Klinksiek Attorney-Kenyon & Kenyon, Reilly, Carr & Chapin ABSTRACT: This disclosure is directed to a mechanical fluidic switch for directing a fluid flow from an input path, to a selected output path while at the same time indicating, by means of a color indication, which output path has been selected. The input path is adjacent to a rotatable element which contains a communicating path, in contact with the input path. The rotatable element is positioned to contact a selected output path. Thus, the fluid flow from the input path is communicated through the communicating path to the selected output path. As the rotatable element contacts a selected output path it also activates a color indicator which corresponds to that output path.

1 MECHANICAL FLUIDIC SWITCH This invention relates to mechanical switches. More specifically, this invention relatesto a mechanical switch for use in fluidics to switch a fluid source from an input path to one of several outlets. The invention can also be adapted to provide an indicator means which does not require electric power, to indicate which outlet the fluid source is switched.

My invention is summarized briefly as a fluidic switch wherein a movable connection between an input source and a selected outputconduit is positioned to allow fluid flow from the input source to the selected output conduit. This invention can be modified so that when so positioned to actuate a color indicator corresponding to said a selected output conduit without the use of electric power. l i

My invention is thus a simple and efficient means to provide a compact and attractive mechanical fluidic switch which has the appearance and advantages of an electric switch.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of my invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. t

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a housing incorporating four of the fluidic switches of my invention;

FIG. 2 shows the construction of my invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the line 3-3 in the direction of the arrowsj FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another embodiment of my invention illustrating a switch in a state different than that shown in FIG. 3; I 7

FIG. is a-sectional view of FIG. 3 taken along the line 5-5 in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and to FIG. 1 in particular. My invention is shown .as embodied in a fluidic switch to control a fluid flow from aninput source to one of twopossible output conduits, while simultaneously actuating a colors indicator to indicate which output source is selected. For this embodiment of my invention, my fluidic switch can be in any one of three possible states. State A is defined when one of the two possible output conduits is in communication with the input source. State B is then defined when the other output conduit is iii communication with the input source. State C then is defined when neither output conduits is in communication with the input source. Forthis particularembodiment these are the only possible states of my invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a housing lfl which houses four such fluidic switches. This shows the neat, compact appearance of these mechanical fluidic switches which is a hallmark of my invention. Four actuators 12a, 12b, 12c and 12a, one for each of the four fluidic switches, are movably mounted in one wall of the housing 10.

In FIG. 1 the actuator l2a'is shown in state A, the actuator 12b is shown in state B and the actuators 12c and 12d are shown in state C. The control surface of the actuators 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d comprises a transparent one-side serrated and duly scalloped material 14. The purpose of this portion of the actuator 12 will become apparent by reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows the component parts of my invention. The actuator 12 comprises a circular disk section out of which a pie section is cut. The actuator 12 is pivotally mounted on a pin 16 which is attached to the housing 10. Further, the actuator 12 is mounted on guide pins 17 and 17a which are attached to the housing and are radially displaced from pin 16. As the actuator 12 rotates about pin 16, the nonattached ends of pins 17 and 17a ride in arcuate grooves 19 and 19a which are machined in the actuator 12.

The input source (not shown) communicates with a center portion 18 of a movable element 20 of the switch through an input conduit 22. Afirst output conduit 24 communicates with an upper portion 26 of said movable element 20 and a second output conduit 28 communicates with a lower portion 30 of said movable element 20. The conduits 22, 24 and 28 are rigidly attached to the fixed element 20 in this manner. Thus, if the center portion 18 of the movable element 20 is connected to upper portion'26 of said movable element 20, then the input source will be communicated from the input conduit 22 via the center portion 18, through the upper poi tion 26 of the movable element 20 and to the first output conduit 24. Similarly, if the center portion 18 of the movable element 20 is connected to the lower portion 30 of said movable element 20, then the input source will be communicated from the input conduit 22 via the center portion 18, through the lower portion 30 of the movable element 20 and to the second output conduit 24. On the circular section of the actuator 12 there is a communicating groove 32 illustrated by slashed lines in FIG. 2. As the actuator 12 pivots about pin 16, the center portion 18 of the movable element 29 communicates through the communicating groove 32 with the upper portion 26 of the movable element 20 or the lower portion 30 of the movable element 20 of with neither of these portions.

The arcuate grooves 19 and 19a are so arranged that when the actuator 12 is rotated about pin 16 to the position where the center portion 18 of the movable element 20 communicates through the communicating groove 32 with the upper portion 26 of the movable element 20, the guide 17a has moved in the groove 19k: to a position adjacent the scalloped material 14. Further, when the actuator 12 is rotated about pin 16 to the position where the center portion 18 of the movable element 20 communicates "through the communicating groove 32 with the lower portion 30 of the movable element 20, the guide pin, 17 has moved in the groove 19 to a position adjacent the scalloped material 14. Further, when the actuator 12 is rotated about pin 16 to a position between these two positions where the center portion 18 of the movable element 20 communicates with neither the upper portion 26 of the movable element 20, nor the lower portion 30 of the movable element 20, the guide pins 17a and 17 are positioned within grooves 19a and 19, respectively, so that neither guide pin is adjacent the scalloped material 14.

Themovable element20 is mounted in the housing 10 by slidably engaging the conduits 22, 24 and 28 in corresponding apertures 22a, 24a and 28a which are in a wall of housing 10. A resilient member 34, such as a spring, is placed about the conduit 22 engaging'the fixed element 20 at one end of the spring and the housinglO at the other end. Thus, as the conduit 22 slidably engages aperture 22a and the movable element 20 moves toward the housing 10, the resident member 34 resists such motion and urges the movable element 20 against the circular section of the actuator 12.

One portion of a resilient flange member 36 is attached to the movable element 20. The unattached portion of the resilient flange member 36 has a lip section 38 which engages grooves 40a, 40b and 400 located on a portion of the periphery of the circular section of the actuator 12.

The groove 40a is positioned on the periphery of the circular section of the actuator 12 so that when the lip section 38 of the flange member 36 engages said groove 40a, the actuator 12 is in the position where the communicating groove 32 engages both the center portion 18 and the lower portion 30 of the movable element 20 and where the guide pin 11 has moved in the groove 19 to a position adjacent the scalloped material 14.

The groove 400 is positioned on the periphery of the circular section of the actuator 12 so that when the lip section 38 of the flange member 36 engages said groove 400, the actuator 12 is in the position where the communicating groove 32 engages both the center portion 18 and the upper portion 26 of the movable element 20 and where the guide pin 17a has moved in the groove 19a to a position adjacent the scalloped material 14.

The groove 40b is positioned on the periphery of the circular section of the actuator 12 between grooves 40a and 40c so that when the lip section 38 of the flange member 36 engages said groove 40b, the actuator 12 is in the position where the communicating groove 32 engages the center portion 18 but does not engage either the upper portion 26 nor the lower portion 30 of the movable element 20, and the guide pins 17 and 17a are positioned in grooves 19-and 19a, respectively, so that neither guide pin is adjacent the scalloped material 14.

The guide pins 17 and 17:: can comprise two colored pieces of plastic or other suitable reflecting materials. For example, guide pin 17 can comprise a red colored piece of reflecting material, whereas guide pin l-7a comprises a green colored piece of reflecting material. The control surface 14 of the actuator 12 beingmade of transparent one-side serrated material andduly scalloped will transmit the color of the plastic when the guide pins 17 or 17a are adjacent the control surface 14. Thus; whenthe center portionl8 of the movable element communicates through the communicating groove 32 with the lower portion 30 ofthe movable element 20, the guide pin 17 is in the groove 19'adjacent the scalloped material 14 so the red color of the plastic'material which comprises the pin 17 willbe transmitted through-the-scalloped material 14.

When the center portion 18 of the movable element 20 communicates through-the communicating groove 32 with the upper portion 26 of the movable element 20, the guide pin 17a is positioned in groove 19a adjacent the scalloped material 14 and so the green color of the plastic which comprises guide pin 17a will be transmitted'by the scalloped material 14. Furthermore, when the center portion 18 of the movable element 20 communicates through the communicating groove 32 with neitherthe upper portion 26 of the movable element 20 nor the lower portion 30 of the movable element 20, the guide pins 17 and 17a are positioned in grooves 19 and 19a, respectively, so that neither guide pin is adjacent the scalloped material 14 and therefore neither the red color of the plastic which comprises guide pin '17 nor the green color of the plastic which comprises guidepin 170 will be transmitted by the scalloped material 14.

. Thus, when my switch is in the state where the input source is communicating with the upper portion 26 of the movable element 20 and: through the output conduit 24, the scalloped material will indicatea green color. Further, when my switch is in the state where the input source is communicating with the lower portion 30 of the movable element 20 and through the output conduit 28, the scalloped material will indicate a red color. Finally, when the switch is in the state where the input source is communicating with neither of the two output conduits 24 and 28, the scalloped material 14 will not indicate any color.

Referring now to FIG. 3 we can see the operation of my switch when it is in the state where the input source is communicating with neither of the two output conduits 24 and 28 and thus, there is no colors indication. The output source is indicated as an arrow entering the input conduit 22. The input source then enters the center portion 18 of the movable element 20 and from there enters the communicating groove 32 of the actuator 12. Because the communicating groove 32 does not communicate with either the upper portion 26 of the movable element 20 nor the lower portion 30 of the movable element 20 the input source cannot communicate to either output conduit 24 of-output conduit 28. Furthermore, while in this state the lip section 38 of the flange member 36 engages group 40b and thus holds the actuator in a relatively steady position adjacent to the 'movable element 20. Furthermore, while the switch is inthis position neither guide pin 17 nor guide pin 17a is positioned within grooves 19 and 19a, respectively, adjacent the scalloped material 14 and therefore, neither the red nor the green color will be transmitted by the scalloped material 14.

Referring to F l6. 4, we see my switch in the state where the input source communicates with the output conduit 28 and therefore, the color red is transmitted by the scalloped material 14. The input source'enters the input conduit 22 and goes into the center portion 18 of the movable element 20. From there it enters the communicating groove 32 in the actuator 12. From there, because the communicating groove 32 communicates with the lower portion 30 of the movable element 20 the input source enters'the lower portion 30 and .is thereby communicated to the output conduit 28'. When the switch is in this state the guide pin 17 is positioned in groove 19 adjacent the serrated material 14 and thus the red color of the plastic which comprises guide pin 17 is communicated through-the serrated material 14. Furthermore, when theswitch is in this state, the lip section 38 of the resilient flange member 36 engages groove 40a and thus keepsthe actuator in a stable position adjacent the movable element 20. ln both FIGS. 4 and FIGS. 5, the spring mechanism '34 is adjacent on the outer periphery of input conduit 22 and urges the movable element 20 against the actuator 12 to efiectuate a seal between these two members.

lclaim:

1. A mechanical fluidic switch with an input pathand a plurality of output paths to directan input fluid flow from said input path to one of said plurality of output paths comprising:

a housing element; an actuating element, rotatably mounted in said housing and containing a communicating path, which is inslidable contact with said input path; a movable element, slidably mounted in said housing, containing the input path and the pluralityof output paths and in slidable contact with said actuating element; and

a spring mechanism operatively associated with said movable element urging said movable element into slidable contact with said actuating element; an actuator surface attached to said actuating element for manually rotating said actuating element; position means operatively associated with said actuating element stopping rotation of said actuating element at certain prescribed positions.

2. A mechanical fluidic switch according to claim 1 which further comprises an indicator means operatively associated with said actuating element and said actuating surface indicating with which output path of the movable element, if any, the communicating path of the actuating element is communicatmg.

3. A mechanical fluidic switch according to claim 2, wherein: the movable element containstwo output paths; the actuating element contains a first and second arcuate groove; the actuator surface comprises a transparent material; the indicator means comprises a first and second guide pin of colored reflecting material; the first guide pin positioned within said first arcuate groove and the second guide pin positioned within said second arcuate groove wherein the first guide pin contacts the actuator surface at the position of the actuating element where the communicating path of the actuating element connects the input path of the movable element, and the second guide pin contacts the actuator surface at the position of the actuating element where .the communicating path of the actuating element connects the input path of the movable element with the other output path of the movable element.

4. A mechanical fluidic switch according to claim 1 wherein the position stop means comprises a flange member having a resilient portion which engages said actuator element to stop the rotation of said actuator element at positions where the communicating groove of the actuator element connects the input path with an output path in the movable element and at a position where the communicating groove does not connect the input path with an output path in the movable element.

5. A mechanical fluidic switch according to claim 3 wherein the position stopmeans comprises a flange member having a resilient portion which engages said actuator element to stop the rotation of said actuator element at positions where the communicating groove of the actuator element connects the input path with an output path in the movable element and at a position where the communicating groove does not connect the input path with an output path in the movable element.

6. A mechanical fluidic switch according to claim 5 wherein the actuating means comprises a solid disk with a pie section deleted and having the communicating groove on the circular portion of the position stop means; and having the actuator surface attached to the pie section portion thereof. 

